Improvement in eydkaulic peesses



@atten tatrsetrnt @frn WILLIAM ETTENGER AND HORACE I. EDMOND, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

Letters Patent o. 76,732, dated April 14, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HYDRAULIG PRESSES.

TO ALL .WHOM IT .MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM ErrnNcnn andV Hennen P. EDMoNn, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, and State of Virginia, have invented a new and improved Hydraulic Press; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification, in which a press illustrating our invention is represented in elevation.

Our improved hydraulic press is intended chieiiy for pressing tobacco, but is applicable also to other uses. Y It consists essentially of a cylinder mounted upon an elevated platform, and a frame, the bead of-Which rests upon the top of the piston, while the bottom of the frame, which receives the material to'be pressed, is suspended beneath the bottom of the cylinder, and is drawn `up towards -it in the act of pressing, as will be hereinafter more fully described. I

l We employ, also, a retaining-device, consisting of an annulus, interposed between the tops of the cylinderand the upper cross-beam of the-frame, and formed with a double series of steps, to engage beneath the ends of the head-piece, so that, byv turning the said annulus around, the frame may be supported at any height.

In the drawings, A represents a platform, supported on legs or-columns, B B. C represents the pressA cylinder, and D al piston, projecting above the open upper end of the said cylinder. E is the press-head, resting on the top of the piston D. F F are' wrought-iron rods, connecting the head, E, and the bottom, Gr, ofthe press; frame. H represents the retainer, which consists of a graduated annulus, set concentrically on top. of the cylinder, between it and the press-head, E, and surrounding the piston D. This 'annulus is formed with two series of steps, l 2 3 4 5, Ste., extending around opposite portions ofits upper surface, so that, by turning the said annulus, more or less step's of corresponding height will be placed beneath the respective ends ofthe head= piece E, to retaintbe entire frame at any height to which it may have been raised. Y

The pipes from the force-pump will be introduced at or near the lower end of' the cylinder in the usual manner, and do not require specific description. i I

The pipes will,'in practice, be arranged to conduct water from asingle pump to two or more pistons, with a stop-cock controlling the inlet to cach, so that the power may be applied to either of the presses at Will, in' regular succession, or otherwise, the graduated annulus, E, of cuchprcss being set up at each operation to retain the pressure. l

When the operation is completed, and it is desired to break up, or to release the compressedl material, one or two strokes of the-pump will release the retainer H, which is then turned back, and the cock being then opened, to permit the escape of the water, the frame will .descend by its own gravity.

The weight of themoving frame does not offer. any considerable-or appreciable resistance to the enormous force exerted by a hydraulic press, and by our invention we utilize this Weight to retract the piston, for break ing up the press, when theoperation is completed. i v

' A great practical diiiculty with hydraulic presses, as most commonly constructed, is4 the liability ofthe cast-iron cylinder, under the immense outwardpressure, to break at the lower end, where the bottom joins th sides.

This diiiculty is entirely removed by the present arrangement, the external support of the bottom of th cylinder being equal to the internal pressure. l

Another great advantage is, that the press-box is brought o n to a level with the door ofthe mill or factory; so that the material to be pressed needvnot be elevated to introduce it.

By arranging our press 'so that the material is introduced into the lower part 0f thefframe, we entirely Y avoid the necessity of sinkingany part of the press in the ground, or erecting a platform to give access to the press-box. v v

vHaving thus described our invention, the following isiwhat we claim as new' therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The placing of the cylinder of the hydraulic press immediately under the head-piece or cross-beam of the frame of the press, the head-piece or cross-beam resting directly on the piston. v l M 2. The retainer H, formed with two sets ef horizontal steps, 1 2 3 4, and sustained and operated substantially as and for the purpose set forth. l

WM. ETTEN GER, H. P. EDMOND Witnesses:

H. P. CLINTON, F. H. PATRICK. 

